Filed under: The Penthouse
It seems that all around the blogosphere there are complaints about seasonal slumps, depressing post-holiday dumps, and all around No Good Very Ugly January’s. Frankly, I am in the same boat. I usually hate January, but this one has been particularly hairy. I got kicked out of school due to some red tape and bad communication from the registrar, my grandmother passed away, I’ve had about three colds, there has been all sorts of family drama, and a quite personal, freak medical situation that no one could have predicted (I’m off the antibiotics tomorrow and that should have taken care of everything… please bless!).
Because I secretly (or not so secretly) think I am SuperGirl, I assumed everything would be fine and life would go on like usual, albeit with a little extra chocolate. Well, that is a nice idea in theory, but it didn’t really work out that way. The other day I had a meeting with my boss -who I absolutely love- and ended up sitting in his office with tears streaming down my face… and I never, Never, EVER cry at work. He got all concerned and sent me home to deal with my demons. And do you know what I did? Firstly, I called Handsome V – not because I felt like I needed to, but because I’m trying this whole “let people in” thing (remember my Little Red Riding Hood analogy? Yeah, this whole “let the boy do what boys do best” thing… so far, so good). And then? Then I busted out the bleach and the rubber gloves and the scrub-brushes and started cleaning my house with a vengeance.
I shoved all the furniture out of my living room, hosed it down with 409 and that special cleaner for wood floors that smells like oranges. And then I decided to move all the furniture back. The original plan was to shake it up and rework the layout. Well, turns out there is really only one layout that works with the furniture, the cable outlet, the fireplace, the staircase, the bay window and the enormous archway into the dining room. But, since you haven’t seen my living room before the Big Bleach Cleanup of 2008, I figured I could post pictures of, essentially, the exact same room as before BBC2008 and you wouldn’t be the wiser. Right?
Welcome to my House! Would you like something to drink? Maybe a little snack?
This is the view from the front door; I am in love with the fireplace and the wood floors. Yes, I realize I am spoiled rotten for having such an apartment in the city. These next two photos are the rest of the living room, as if you were turning around clock-wise. The archway on the left opens into the dining room, which leads to the kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom. The stairs (seen in the reflection in the mirror) lead upstairs to The Loft. Which is my next cleaning assignment, and which I will photograph & post for your curiosity. But let me just say, it’s amazing. Three couches, TV, two full-sized desks, extra furniture, and ALL my shoes. And that’s a LOT of shoes! (176 pairs, to be exact.) Ok, now for the rest of the living room.
While I was at my clean-freakyness, I also decided to revamp my bedroom. Nothing says “I hate January but am trying to embrace the season” like an pale, wintery blue quilt in a totally touchable silky-velvet. Mmmm, it is absolutely delicious!
So, there it is. The bleach-centered result of a month of really bad days with a few throw pillows tossed in for good measure. Yes, I use cleaning as a stress-reliever. And yes, it is totally worth it.
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Make room. I’m moving in.
Comment by Marriage-101 2008 January 29 @ 9:11 pmI love it! Your house is too nice! Do you live alone? I love the bedding! Good job for embrassing the season and letting people in! Will you come help me set up my home? I am clueless.
Comment by Sarah 2008 January 29 @ 9:26 pmI love your house! It looks like the perfect place to curl up with a good book and hide from the snow.
Comment by allee 2008 January 29 @ 9:47 pmDefinitely love the idea of a fire place in the winter. And I’m sorry the Januaries have hit you too. Fingers crossed February is better for both of us!
Comment by brandy 2008 January 30 @ 12:20 amthank goodness we only have a couple days of Jan. not going to lie, i’m excited feb. has come b/c i’m starting it off right w/ being in NZ! love your house, cleaning fetish (coming from a fellow OCD girl), and super cute fireplace. give handsome v a hug for me! xoxoxo
Comment by Erica 2008 January 30 @ 1:56 amWOW, I love that apartment! (What I can see of it, anyways…)
And… maybe the crying at work was cathartic? Or maybe the bleach fumes were? Hope you’re feeling better soon! (If not… the end of January is near! YAY!)
Comment by Z 2008 January 30 @ 6:38 amYour apartment looks fabulous! Although I’ll confess, I have no idea where you’d use bleach or 409 in the living room…aren’t those for kitchen/bathroom? I’m not all that savvy about my cleaning products. Makes me wonder if my living room is quietly yearning to be 409′d???
Comment by Trish Ryan 2008 January 30 @ 7:42 amYour house is cute. I better not invite you to mine if you are a clean freak! My toddler seems to demolish my house 2 minutes after I clean it.
Comment by Hannah 2008 January 30 @ 9:14 amI lalalalove your place!!! It is so cozy and beautiful and it inspires me to decorate!
Comment by Vanessa Christensen 2008 January 30 @ 9:20 amLove ya!
Vanessa
Sounds so therapeutic!! I wish I went home to an apartment half as cozy as yours is… maybe then I’d be less Little Miss Gumpy January myself!
Comment by Laurel 2008 January 30 @ 9:36 amOh my god your place is gorgeous and so GROWN UP. I am completely jealous.
Comment by Jess 2008 January 30 @ 9:42 amAwesome place! Yes, cleaning does make one feel better and is totally worth it. I am in dire need of some organization at my house and a new jug of bleach. I need to get cracking before leaving for Florida on 2/22 so that I will be excited to return to a pristine home. (I love Fabulosa – have you used that? Smells great.)
Comment by Leslie 2008 January 30 @ 9:51 amI love it! You have a beautiful home! Cleaning and organizing is therapeutic for me too
Comment by Katie 2008 January 30 @ 10:05 amhang in there deary. I love you!
Comment by Steph 2008 January 30 @ 10:56 amSuper cute. I’d like a snack please?
Comment by Andrea 2008 January 30 @ 11:51 amLovely, and that loft part sounds awesome too! Um, have I missed something, you still have that wonderful wooden floor and not an ugly carpet…?
Comment by Pia 2008 January 30 @ 12:08 pmOh how i love your house. No toddler toys…. no crumbs on the floor…. I’m so jealous. Can i move in??
Comment by Britt 2008 January 30 @ 1:43 pmThe apartment really is fantastic. Robby and I are so envious of all of your space!! I hope the smell of cleaner is still in the air tomorrow. (It might inspire me to do a more thorough scrub of my own place.) Hope the cleaning reduced your stress & that the anti-biotics were effective!! Kisses.
Comment by Steph 2008 January 30 @ 2:11 pmEmail me back–cause I’m wondering where you live in the city? Is this a new place or a highrise? I love your home! Is it a condo? Or apartments? I noticed you’re close to the ground, not up in the air! Yes, I am jealous of where you are living! And I must say, you keep your place up!
Comment by Jen 2008 January 30 @ 2:18 pmCan I copy this look when I buy a place of my own? Oh, who am I kidding? I live in Seattle.
Comment by Thomas 2008 January 30 @ 2:46 pmomigod I’m in love. Can I move in? We can share shoes!
Comment by Molly 2008 January 30 @ 2:58 pmI definitely use cleaning as a de-stresser when I need it too. And I love love love your place, it’s so cute!
Comment by katelin 2008 January 30 @ 5:15 pmI truly wish I cleaned when I got stressed! How can I do that? All I want to do it lay on the couch and whimper.
Comment by janet 2008 January 30 @ 8:40 pmoh yeah? Lexi asked me what a vacuum was for the other day when E. had it on…
I need her back for a few days, then you can have at the house because I am oblivously useless on my own.
Comment by Sara 2008 January 30 @ 11:22 pmYour house is adorable!
Comment by alyndabear 2008 February 3 @ 8:59 am